Developmental Milestone Guidance in Los Angeles
Supporting your child’s growth, every step of the way.
As a parent, you watch your child grow and change every day, and it’s only natural to wonder, “Is my child on track?” With an overwhelming amount of information online, it’s easy to feel anxious or unsure about your child’s development.
At Child & Family STEPS, I provide developmental guidance and strategies to promote healthy development across key areas, including physical movement, communication, social-emotional skills, and cognitive development. My goal is to help you celebrate your child’s progress, understand their unique timeline, and feel confident in supporting their next steps.
What are developmental milestones?
Developmental milestones are the skills and abilities that children are expected to achieve within a certain age range. They provide a general guideline for a child’s development. These milestones help parents and professionals recognize a child’s progress and identify areas that may need extra support.
Why Choose Child & Family STEPS for Developmental Guidance?
- Expertise in Infant and Early Childhood Development: My entire practice is built on a deep foundation of infant and early childhood development. I can help you understand the nuances of your child’s individual journey and distinguish between a normal variation in timing and a potential flag that may need more support. I also provide developmental screenings and tailored guidance on how to support your child’s developmental goals.
- A Proactive Approach: You don’t have to wait for a significant problem to arise to seek support. I provide proactive guidance to enrich your daily interactions and address small concerns before they become big ones. This is about fostering potential and giving you piece of mind.
- A View of the Whole Child: Together, we will explore key developmental domains, such as communication (language and gestures), social-emotional skills (how they relate to others), and cognitive development (how they think and learn), to get a complete and nuanced picture of your child’s strengths, challenges, and interests. This allows me to tailor strategies and support to meet the specific needs of your child and family.
- Practical, Play-Based Strategies: My guidance translates directly into simple, fun, and powerful activities that you can easily integrate into your daily routine. My goal is to empower you to become the expert on fostering your own child’s development through the power of connection and play.
What to Expect in Our Sessions
1. Initial Consultation and Discussion: We’ll begin with a warm, in-depth conversation about your child’s history, your family’s routines, and your specific observations, questions, or concerns. We will talk about your child’s amazing strengths and identify any areas you’d like to understand more deeply.
2. Play-Based Developmental Observation: The best way to understand a child is to see them play. Through a relaxed, natural observation, I will observe you and your child play and engage with your child to see their skills across different milestones.
3. Personalized Feedback and Clarity: I will provide you with information about developmental norms and what to expect at your child’s age, including easy-to-understand feedback about your child’s unique developmental profile. We will celebrate their strengths and discuss any areas where extra support may be beneficial, answering all of your questions along the way.
4. Practicing Play Skills: I will guide you through practicing specific activities and play-based techniques designed to promote healthy development in targeted areas, such as language, cognitive skills, or social interactions. You’ll receive live coaching during our sessions to help you feel confident in implementing these effective, new strategies at home.
5. Progress Monitoring and Maintenance: We will regularly review your child’s progress and make adjustments to our goals as needed, including working on higher-level milestones, support with additional resources, or graduating! My goal is to empower you with the knowledge and skills to continue supporting your child’s healthy development long after our sessions have ended.
FAQs about Developmental Milestones
Who can benefit from developmental guidance?
Any parent who has questions or concerns about their child’s development, is looking for ways to support their child’s growth, or has been advised by a pediatrician or teacher to seek further support. I typically work with families of children from infancy through elementary school.
What are the benefits of addressing developmental concerns early?
Early identification and intervention for developmental delays can make a significant difference. Key benefits include improved social-emotional and pre-academic skills, increased confidence for both the child and parents, and a better long-term developmental trajectory.
How is this different from a visit to my pediatrician?
Your pediatrician is an expert in your child’s physical health and performs brief, valuable developmental screenings. My role is to provide a much deeper, more focused dive into your child’s development. I can dedicate more time to observation, interactions, and coaching to provide detailed, play-based strategies for you to implement at home to support your child’s growth.
Is this a formal evaluation for a diagnosis?
This service is for guidance, monitoring, and proactive support, not a formal diagnosis. However, if observations during our sessions raise concern, my expertise allows me to discuss those with you clearly and guide you on the appropriate next steps, including a formal evaluation if one is needed, guidance around school supports, or connection with other specialty services (e.g., speech, occupational therapy, etc.) that may be beneficial.
My child was born prematurely. How does that affect their milestones?
We will track your child’s development using their “adjusted age” based on their prematurity. I have extensive experience supporting NICU graduates and their families and can help you with understanding and supporting their unique developmental path.
I'm just feeling anxious. What if it turns out nothing is wrong?
That would be wonderful news! Many parents seek a “developmental check-in” simply for reassurance. There is no downside to being a proactive and informed parent. You will leave our sessions with peace of mind and fun new ways to connect and play with your child, confident that you are doing everything you can to support their bright future.